The Norwegian ship-owner Odfjell thus has just given up making forward his ships by the gulf of Aden, not of the sphere one cannot strategic but theatre of a growing number of acts of piracy.
Solution of “skirting” from now on implemented: the ship-owner wishes that its fleet take from now on the longer road via the Cape of Good Hope off South Africa. The course could certainly prove more expensive in term of fuel expenses but also surer… what could reduce the invoice in term of insurances. Remain however that the times of transport will be impacted by it.
“We are persuaded that our customers will appreciate this decision taken to ensure not only the safety of our crews and ships but also that of our goods”, added Mr. Storeng.
“That will cause additional costs but we count on the support and a contribution of our customers”, it specified.
Mr. Storeng has estimated that it was “difficult” to quantify the caused overcost, which depends on the wearing of origin and destination, but estimated that this decision would lengthen from “six to 12 days” additional an ordinary sea link.
For memory, let us recall that Odfjell has a fleet of 92 ships which link the United States and Europe to Asia, the Middle East and South America. None of them was recently the object of a pirate raid off Somalia but, according to the international maritime Office, at least 83 foreign boats were attacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean and the gulf of Aden this year, the double of the assessment of 2007.
Odfjell will again forward by the gulf of Aden when “a sufficient protection is in place or when measures are taken to prevent the pirate raids”, according to the official statement.
For recall, the gulf of Aden is the bay located between the horn of Africa (Somalia) and the peninsula Arabique (Yemen). It separates the African continent from the continent of Asia. It connects the Red Sea to the west by the strait of Bab-el-Mandeb to the sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean to the east, the island Abd Al Kuri of the archipelago of Socotra by marking the extreme Eastern limit. Its length is of 1.000 km for a width varying from 150 to 440 km.
Historical zone of exchange between Arabia of the South and the East Africa, the boring of Suez Canal in made a strategic zone. Through the gulf passes an important way of international sea transport between Asia and Europe and one of the principal ways of maritime export of oil.
The ships sailing in the gulf must face the extension of the maritime piracy which prevails more in the south off the coasts of Somalia since the end of the year 1990.
Since 2005 of many international organizations, the international maritime Organization (IMO) and the World food program in particular, expressed their concern in front of the increase in the frequency of the acts of piracy. The United States and some their Western allies maintain a force of naval coalition, Combined Task force 150 off Somalia, but this presence is regarded as insufficient in comparison with extended from water to supervise.
Last Sunday, the pirates diverted a Japanese cargo liner off the Somali coasts, whereas a Japanese chimiquier and his sailors, hostages for six months, have been released after the payment of a ransom. A Russian warship intervened as for him to prevent the pirates from taking the control of a Saoudi trading vessel.
Monday November 17, Sirius Star, a Saoudi supertanker was diverted by Somali pirates with approximately 450 nautical miles of the coast of Kenya. The ship, under bast house, transported a full cargo of 2 million barrels of petrol towards the United States via the Cape of Good Hope.
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